Taiwan editorial abstract (File 4 of a daily roundup) A rough 2009 is over, but the new year may not necessarily bode well for Taiwan, either, as evidenced by persistently high unemployment and the retreat of local wage levels to those recorded 13 years ago.
While the administration of President Ma Ying-jeou has brazenly cited the recent rebound of the local housing and stock markets amid a global economic turnaround to prove the appropriateness of its economic policies, the reality is that its China-leaning policy has left Taiwan with a widening wealth gap and declining consumption power.
The agreements signed during the four rounds of high-level cross-Taiwan Strait meetings have only further opened up Taiwan for capital outflow to China. Increased cross-strait investment and trade volumes have only served to drive down Taiwan's income levels and consumer purchasing power.
Generally speaking, Ma's China-oriented policy has only benefited owners of a few business groups while adversely impacting ordinary people's jobs and wages.
That was why voters taught Ma lessons in the Yunlin County legislative by-election and the mayoral and magistrate elections by voting for opposition candidates.
As Ma's administration has shown no intention to revise its China-leaning policy by insisting on going ahead with its plan to sign a cross-strait economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) , Taiwan's people should not sit idly by and see their country sold out to China.
2010 should be a year for our people to stand up to voice their opposition to the Ma adminsitration's move to "sell out Taiwan." A main tactic is to vote against the ruling party's candidates in the year-end elections for mayors of five special municipalities.
Only by so doing can we save ourselves and protect Taiwan's sovereignty and economic well-being.
(By Sofia Wu)
Source: Taiwan News Online - Politics 2010/01/01
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